Colosimo goal saves Australia's blushes

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A late Simon Colosimo goal has given Australia a 1-0 victory
over a relatively anonymous New Zealand outfit in their friendly at
Fulham on Thursday night.

Australia, using the match as a tune-up for the Confederations
Cup later this month, struggled to break down a disciplined New
Zealand outfit all night before Colosimo gave Australia the
victory.

Just as the game seemed destined for a scoreless draw, the goal
came in the 86th minute as Tim Cahill played the ball out to the
left, where Scott Chipperfield centred to an unmarked Colosimo.

The Perth Glory midfielder had time for a controlling touch and
then drilled his left-foot drive into the bottom right corner of
goal.

The goal would have come as a relief for coach Frank Farina,
whose position has been the subject of further speculation this
week, as he doubtlessly considered the consequences of a draw
against a Kiwi outfit lacking anything resembling star quality.

Socceroo striker Mark Viduka was left out of the squad, with
caution required on his long-term hamstring injury in the lead-up
to the Confederations Cup.

In the absence of Marco Bresciano and Vince Grella - both on
club duty with Parma - the Australian midfield was controlled by
Josip Skoko in partnership with young Jon McKain and Tim Cahill in
front of them.

Brett Emerton and Scott Chipperfield were the wide men
supporting lone striker Mile Sterjovski in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Australia's best first-half chance came in the 23rd minute when
Cahill rose to make a far-post header that was well saved by Kiwi
custodian Mark Paston.

The best chance of the first half came in the 29th minute when
New Zealand forward Brent Fisher was released in the box with only
Mark Schwarzer to beat, but dragged his shot across the face of
goal.

New Zealand again had the better chances in the second half,
with Adrian Webster's long-range effort just wide of the left-hand
post of Zeljko Kalac, who replaced Schwarzer in the Australian goal
at half-time.

All White centre-back Che Bunce then forced a diving save from
Kalac in the 72nd minute, while Australia - persisting with a lone
striker - pushed forward down the flanks without producing any real
scoring opportunities.

Gradually Australia began to take charge, with substitutes
Colosimo and Ahmad Elrich providing some much-needed energy to
midfield, with Australia getting their late reward.